Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explains how he has changed Scott McTominay’s role

With six goals this season, Scott McTominay leads Man United’s goal scorers after his game-winning performance against Chelsea.

Ten Hag got his message across

Following his game-winning performance against Chelsea, Scott McTominay’s “smell” for a goal was praised by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

McTominay became the club’s top scorer this season with six goals after scoring both goals in United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

With goals either side of halftime, the 26-year-old gave United their sixth victory in their previous eight Premier League games, bringing them to within three points of league leaders Manchester City.

Ten Hag exclaimed, “He has the skills.” “He has the ability to arrive at the perfect time, he has a nice scent, and the finish is excellent.

When it comes to dynamics, he can be deeper or lower at times, but our strategy and game plan frequently call for him to be high. In order for him to be able to go high and get into positions where he is close to a striker and then make runs, the team must make this happen.

“The team needs to make sure we bring the ball with him because he has a great finish and a pleasant scent when he arrives.

“It’s not difficult; it’s just a question of organization. To acquire him, we must place the players in the appropriate positions, which requires other players to play deeper and contribute their best abilities.

“And it’s all about getting individuals in the right positions on the pitch and that you make use from their skills and attributes.”

Robert Sanchez, the goalkeeper for Chelsea, faced 28 attempts on goal from United, forcing the Spaniard to make six saves in the first half alone, including a penalty stop at 0-0 from Bruno Fernandes.

Ten Hag acknowledged that if United had been more clinical, they could have enjoyed a more tranquil evening. United has won eight of their nine Premier League games by a single goal.

“We won in the end, so it’s not like we’re frustrated, but we could have made our lives much easier by scoring three goals in the first half-hour.

“We got off to a great start; we were bold, energetic, proactive, and proactive, and we created a lot of opportunities at that point. We had the option to score two or three goals.”

At Old Trafford for the first of three straight games, United came back magnificently from their lifeless defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. Ten Hag said that United’s defeat at Newcastle was an anomaly because the team has now taken 18 of a possible 24 points in the league.

“We played three games last week, and we performed well in two of them—especially against Everton. Despite one poor game, you can tell this team is headed in the right direction. Excellent progress, which we are happy about.

“Even when you give a poor performance, you can still receive a result, which is what we need to do next. The next step will be to gather points for sticking together, acting with the proper attitude, and fighting even during subpar performances.

“Dominating the opposition both in and out of possession is how we play, and that’s how I want to play. Thus, I was quite happy with the team’s performance today and found it to be very enjoyable.”